Strictly star on importance of getting 'good partner' after pro's 'tough' time on BBC show

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Jason Bell, who competed in the programme's 18th series in 2020 with pro dancer Luba Mushtuk, has shared his experiences and emphasised the value of a "good partner" during an exclusive chat with Reach.

Despite their early exit in their run on Strictly, the pair thoroughly enjoyed their stint. Jason's Kind words about Luba follow her departure from the 2024 series with her celebrity partner Nick Knowles, whose injury led to missing a week and subsequent elimination from the dance competition.

Jason has provided some insights into his time on Strictly in a wider interview about his partnership with Samsung, as they launch their American Football Jargon Buster to help British fans better understand the game ahead of the upcoming season.

The sports analyst and ex-NFL athlete commented on the camaraderie he shared with Luba, especially after she and Nick faced hardships in this year's contest.

Speaking of his and Luba's enduring friendship, he said: "Luba is my friend and she'll be my friend for life - she's a great person. I think what happens on that show is, if you're lucky enough to get a really good partner, it's like being on a team."

Expounding on the parallels between sports and dance partnerships, Jason added: "I'm so close with my teammates because of what we went through on the field.

"And you never forget that. You talk about that. You remember 'that game and this happened...' Well, that's the same thing me and Luba can talk about.

"We can talk about how hard practice was and the things we had to overcome. I always remind her of dances she had to literally drag me through," he said, chuckling.

"Because she would be like, 'You get really heavy.' I thought I was really light on my feet. She was like, 'No,' and I was like, 'Oh, I must have been nervous.' So, yeah, just a wonderful friendship based on a shared experience."

When asked if he felt sympathy for Luba after she and Nick were forced to leave the competition due to injury issues, Jason confirmed: "Yeah, it's just tough. You want your people to do well.

"I know how great of a teacher she is, and in all honesty, she really cares about whoever her partner is and if they're performing well.

"That's what she's into, and that's what most of them care about, so that's what makes it just a great show. People love it for a reason.

"I mean, you're trying to accomplish something that's challenging, and you have help, and you have a partnership to get you through. And that's what we all want in life."

Nick had previously revealed that he needs two surgeries on his arm and leg following injuries incurred during his time on Strictly, with the 62-year-old being the third celebrity to exit the competition.

He expressed gratitude for the support received, saying: "Thank you all for your lovely messages of support! I'm sad for Luba as she had so many lovely dances planned but there are wonderful dancers in Strictly this year and with the injuries I just couldn't keep up. I had the best time, met the best people and enjoyed every minute."

Elsewhere in the interview, Jason excitedly spoke about his new, helpful guide to help American Football novices understand the game better.

He said: “The British love their sports, but to understand your sports, you’ve got to know the rules, and Samsung has got some data together that shows over 60% of the public is struggling with knowing the rules.

“That's why we started the NFL Jargon Buster playbook, so we can give them some of the terminology so they can try to follow along.

“Sometimes the words and terminology will kind of just throw you off, so being able to understand what it all means will allow you to [get into it].

“It's just like learning a new language. You’ve just got to build on each word at a time, and the next thing you know, you're speaking fluently.”

Summing up the game for new fans, he continued: “For the main rules, you just have to think that the team's got four tries to move the ball 10 yards, and that's, in essence, what you're trying to do. It's as simple as that.

“Watch the quarterback - that's the key. Everything starts and ends with them, and really just move on from there. But keep watching and be patient with yourself.

“And then I would say, keep my Jargon Buster playbook right in front of you, in case something pops up. So, then you can say, ‘Oh, I know exactly what that means!’

“But now is the time to really get involved, because this is when good football is starting to be played,” he encouraged.

Jason also identified his top two teams: legacy champions Kansas City Chiefs, and the Detroit Lions, who he described as “the underdogs”.

Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Jason Bell has partnered with Samsung , the official TV partner of NFL UK, to create the American Football Jargon Buster to help fans from fumbling the rules.